for the active Christian

HOPE , the national no to euthanasia organisation led by Paul Russell is asking people to sign up to the Declaration of Hope. The declaration is a statement to all parliamentarians across Australia that you do not accept nor want euthanasia and assisted suicide enabling laws. The declaration comes as the Sunday Times, The West Australian and Community Newspaper Group pick up their pro-euthanasia campaign and comes ahead of legislation before various parliaments across Australia.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition reports news from Canada where Justice Minister Hon Rob Nicholson, on July 13, 2012, ‘appealed the decision by Justice Lynn Smith in the Carter decision in BC, a decision that would have legalised euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada. Minister Nicholson also appealed the constitutional exemption that gave Gloria Taylor the right to be killed by euthanasia. The decision is being appealed to the BC Court of Appeal. Link to the information.

REALdignitytas.com has been launched in tasmania. It is an online forum which enables eminent Tasmanians to share their professional opinions on maintaining the legal prohibition on euthanasia and assisted suicide in Tasmania. It was launched by the Hon William Cox, former Tasmanian Governor and chief justice of the supreme court. Other supporters include former Tasmanian Premier Hon Ray Groom, Prof Jeff Malpas, Dr Kristi Giselsson, Prof Ray Lowenthal, and Prof Michael Tate. For more info see their website.

On average 230 Western Australians take their lives each year, well above the average annual road toll of 191, according to Minister for Mental Health, Helen Morton. She was speaking at the Prevalence, Prevention and Early Response to Suicide seminar on March 31. For press release: http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=138781

The WA Govt announced on May 29 that it has committed $13m to the Western Australian Suicide Prevention Strategy 2009-12 which will be implemented by Centrecare Inc. Centrecare will work alongside the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention. About 2000 Australians suicide every year. For WA Govt press release: http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx?ItemId=133593&